1.4 1 ..3" %..gs Spring `99 t*".• S .:4- Orchard Mall Travel Getting Away For Passover Over 35 Fine Shops, Restaurants, Salons & Services for the Entire Family WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN Orchard Lake Road • North of Maple 248-851-7727 Judy and Sam Pruchno: Passover in Palm Springs works for them. Spring Merchandise rriving Daily. ei\1 14, Shop early for the best selection ever. 6720 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, Michigan (next to Deli Unique) 248-855-6566 COMPLAISANT CELEBRATION CONNECTION. 4/2 1999 .DIRECTORY in our Classified Section 104 Detroit Jewish News SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to The Jewish News S hifra Zwick was tired. A working wife, mother, moth- er-in-law and grandmother with a packed schedule, Zwick was looking forward to a full celebration of Passover but not all the home chores that go along with an exacting observance. That was two years ago, when she found a solution that worked for her and her extended family. As owner of Doneson World Class Travel in Southfield, Zwick settled on a Florida trip that would let her be true to her faith, spend time with close relatives and fit vacation activities into the mix. Zwick booked everyone into hotel- apartments in Miami, ordered kosher- for-Passover catered meals for their seders as well as throughout the holi- day and arrived a few days early to shop for paper products, produce and perishables. Before leaving Michigan, she sent treasured serving items ahead to make the furnished units, which offer a cleaning staff, feel more like home. She was glad that religious services were conducted in the building and recreational opportunities were just outside the door. "I said I'd never do this, but it has worked out so well," says Zwick, who made the same arrangements last year. Although unable to return this holi- day season because her accountant husband is swamped with clients, she looks forward to going back again. Zwick believes apartments offer the right environment for observant fami- lies with young children, who can go to their private kitchens to snack on kosher Passover food. For a family of four, the costs, including travel, run about $4,500. But what has worked for Zwick's brood still is more responsibility than others care to accept. These are the people who choose resort hotels set up with kosher kitchens. Rabbi Yale Butler of Pittsburgh has coordinated hotel Passover pro- grams for 20 years. He's picked the Lakeview Scanticon Resort and Conference Center in West Virginia for 1999 participants. Costs, exclud- ing travel, are $999 per person. This is for people who don't want any fuss for the holiday," Rabbi Butler C—\ explains. "I call it a cruise on land for families who want to spend time together away from other pursuits. They have an opportunity to attend a synagogue on premises, learn through lectures we set up, get to meet new people and enjoy the experience of a tennis and golf resort." Judy Pruchno has signed up for a Passover resort package for three years and has booked a spot in California this year. "I would not have done this when the children were small," says Pruchno, whose youngsters are grown and moved away. "I keep kosher and don't have the energy to set up the house for just my husband and me." In the World Wide Kosher plan the Pruchnos enjoy, a cantor conducts the seders, and there is a Detroit group that forms a large table together. In the past, Pruchno's son has been can- to r. • "I can spend the afternoons at lec- tures, walking or sitting at the pool," Pruchno says. "We've been close to suburbs and so I also can go shopping or to art galleries during the week. I'm with a lot of people my own age, and I can forget about anything and every- thing." Observant travelers seeking a more exotic experience could sign up with the Sterling Experience, which offers Passover programs in Bermuda. This season's guests will celebrate the holi- dayand enjoy luxury recreation amenities at the Southampton Princess, where costs start at about $4,000 per person. Terry Rotenberg, owner/manager of Gemini Travel in West Bloomfield, has not had a request for Passover vacation opportunities in many years, but when a client recently wanted information on holiday cruises, she did some research. "I found three cruise lines who offer seders and kosher meals — Norwegian Caribbean, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean," says Rotenberg, who says the food general- ly comes packaged and frozen from a contracted caterer. "A rabbi is on board to conduct services, and the kosher food is avail- able throughout the trip, although it's not glatt kosher. Of course, it's impor- tant to notify the cruise line about religious preferences as soon as reser- vations are made. Prices will not be affected by Passover observance."